Pacific Business News has recognized Mary G. Boland, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene dean, as a Healthcare Hero in the administrative excellence category at the 2015 Healthiest Employer and Healthcare Hero event on Thursday, July 30. This is the first year Pacific Business News has recognized individuals who are making a difference in the healthcare community.

Boland was nominated for her indelible contributions to the local healthcare community. Over her decade of service to Hawaiʻi’s healthcare and nursing communities, she has led initiatives to increase the number of nurses to address nursing shortages, led program expansion at the graduate level to respond to primary care provider shortages and engaged in interdisciplinary activities, including partnership with the state Department of Education to re-establish school nurses in the public school system in Hawaiʻi.

“As an education leader, I am inspired by the opportunity to steward the UH Mānoa School of Nursing, which is a precious state asset,” said Boland. “In doing so, I engage with amazing Hawaiʻi public and private leaders who have embraced me with their ‘can-do’ spirit. The recognition by peers in the health and business communities is much appreciated.”

A champion for nursing competency

Most recently, Boland spearheaded and achieved passage of continuing competency requirements for nurses in Hawaiʻi. For five years, she worked to gain statewide and local support by disseminating the importance of this bill for nursing and for safe patient care, and working with legislators and the Board of Nursing to ensure questions related to the implementation of this bill were answered with evidence based information.

Boland’s ability to engage stakeholders across the healthcare sector’s many disciplines to achieve actionable outcomes is a signature of her contribution to the state. Championing continuing competency for nurses is a key marker of her contributions to the healthcare community, as it will establish the culture of lifelong learning in nursing practice with the aims of providing safe and quality care to the people of Hawaiʻi.

Under her leadership, the nursing department has reorganized the bachelor of science in nursing program, using the consortium model, to support nursing students graduating with associate degrees in nursing across the state to achieve a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She also developed an executive RN program to facilitate working nurses with associate degrees in nursing to achieve a bachelor of science in nursing while maintaining full-time nursing schedules. The school expanded to include a graduate entry program in nursing to address Hawaiʻi’s primary care provider shortage as well as a doctorate of nursing practice.

Under her stewardship, the school is moving up in national rankings. In 2015 U.S. News and World Report magazine the school ranked #83 for Best Graduate Nursing Schools and #70 for Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs.

In the last 20 years, nearly 2,000 exoplanets have been discovered and that number will continue to grow rapidly. Several of these planets are potentially capable of harboring life.

In addition, there have been numerous space missions to bodies within our solar system that have greatly increased our knowledge of these relatively close worlds. Two have recently been in the news: New Horizons, which flew by Pluto and its moons and Rosetta, which has been exploring Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

In 2012 he received a Humboldt Research Fellowship award, which he used to spend 2013–14 in Germany at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg and the University of Tuebingen.

Division F promotes studies of planetary systems

Division F deals with our solar system, extrasolar planetary systems and astrobiology. It promotes studies of planetary systems, including our own, aimed at the understanding of their formation and evolution, from the point of view of the dynamics and of the physics, as well as of the occurrence of conditions favorable to the development of life in the universe. It also promotes the dissemination of reliable physical and dynamical data about astronomical objects in our solar system and other planetary systems and oversees the assignment of proper nomenclature and discovery credits, where appropriate.

The IAU will be holding its triennial General Assembly at the Honolulu Convention Center August 3–14. More than 2,500 astronomers from 75 countries are expected to attend.

]]>http://www.hawaii.edu/news/2015/07/29/uh-astronomer-to-head-international-astronomical-division-on-planetary-science-and-astrobiology/feed/1A celebration of life for a beloved graduate Shirley Naomi Kanani Garciahttp://www.hawaii.edu/news/2015/07/27/a-celebration-of-life-for-a-beloved-graduate-shirley-naomi-kanani-garcia/
http://www.hawaii.edu/news/2015/07/27/a-celebration-of-life-for-a-beloved-graduate-shirley-naomi-kanani-garcia/#commentsMon, 27 Jul 2015 23:56:51 +0000http://www.hawaii.edu/news/?p=36956UH community celebrates the life of William S. Richardson School of Law graduate Shirley Garcia.]]>

On Friday, July 24, friends and family came together to share memories of Shirley Naomi Kanani Garcia a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law graduate who passed away May 30. Garcia lived a meaningful life and is remembered lovingly by the people with whom she worked, lived and shared passionate ideals of social justice with.

Friends and family shared fond memories in remembrance of Garcia and the life she led. When her friend, Jade Wong, wanted to attempt a triathlon, Garcia spent hours training her to swim in the smooth, strong freestyle at which she excelled. When her sister, Margaret Garcia Dalzell, took up zumba, Garcia listened attentively to why she was so passionate about it, and then took it up herself, mostly as a way to support her sister. When Law Professor Chris Iijima was dying of a rare blood disease, Garcia stepped in to help direct the Ulu Lehua Scholars Program at the law school, nurturing and guiding it successfully through two stressful years.

“People like Shirley don’t come along very often,” Dean Avi Soifer told more than 100 people gathered at the ceremony. “She was a fierce fighter for social justice, while still being a gentle human being.”

Garcia had been the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission’s longest serving enforcement attorney. She also played an especially important role at the law school during difficult times early in 2005, stepping in to lead and nurture the Ulu Lehua program.

Added Soifer, “Shirley truly embodied the qualities and the spirit of our namesake, Chief Justice William S. Richardson and served the community unstintingly.”

The American Book Awards, administered by the Before Columbus Foundation, were created to recognize outstanding literary achievement and excellence without any restrictions from America’s diverse literary community. They are bestowed upon writers by writers. Recipients range from well-known and established writers to under-recognized authors.

Perez joins an exclusive group of winners, which includes writers such as Toni Morrison, and is one of only 14 chosen to receive the award in 2015. Perez and his fellow writers will be honored on October 25 at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco.

Book description

Craig Santos Perez, a native Chamoru born and raised on the Pacific Island of Guåhan (Guam), migrated with his family to California in 1995, and did not return home until 15 years later. from unincorporated territory [guma’] emerges from the tension between arrival and departure to map the emotional and geographic cartographies of migration.

Featuring a variety of poetic forms (including lyric, narrative, documentary and conceptual poems, dramatic monologues and prose essays), the poet highlights the everyday struggles of staying connected to native origins and customs, while adjusting to new American cultures and terrains.

This collection draws attention to, and protests, the violent currents of colonialism and militarism currently threatening Guåhan, a U.S. territory since 1898 and a “strategic” location of U.S. geopolitical power in the Asia Pacific region. Drawing from history and politics, culture and family, from unincorporated territory [guma’] memorializes what the Chamoru people have lost through military occupation and out-migration, and insists that we must raise our voices to protect and defend what we have left of the places we call home.

Former University of Hawaiʻi staff member Aurora Winslade will be honored with the Rising Star of Energy Efficiency: Student award by the Alliance to Save Energy (Alliance) this fall at the nation’s capital for her accomplishments while working as the Transformational Program Manager at Hawaiʻi Energy and for previous work helping to develop energy efficiency goals and plans at UH and the University of California Santa Cruz. She will be one of six award recipients during the Alliance’s 23rd Annual Evening with the Stars of Energy Efficiency Awards Dinner on September 17, 2015 in Washington, D.C.

Winslade’s notable accomplishments include:

Launching the first statewide Community-Based Social Marketing campaign at Hawaiʻi Energy to improve energy efficiency in apartments and condominiums on the islands of Hawaiʻi, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi, Maui and Oʻahu.

Co-founding the University of Hawaiʻi System’s Sustainability Strategy that led to the establishment of specific energy efficiency goals, targets and a policy for the university that commits to carbon neutrality.

Hosting and contributing to numerous strategic events that helped align the UH community around energy efficiency such as the Annual Hawaiʻi Sustainability in Higher Education Summit from 2012 to 2015.

Orchestrating a meeting with UH leaders, UH Foundation board members and the Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission to develop energy efficiency financing.

Initiating discussions for what now is the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu’s new bachelor of applied science concentration in facilities management that will be offered this fall 2015.

Founding the University of California Santa Cruz’s Sustainability Office and co-founding multiple student programs while an undergraduate at UCSC.

“We’d like to congratulate Aurora who truly is making a difference in the energy efficiency world,” said Ray Starling, Hawaiʻi Energy Program director. “She’s worked tirelessly during her many years in academia and we are fortunate to have her on our team to educate and empower others to save energy.”

“Aurora has played an important role in developing the university’s systemwide sustainability strategy, and helped us to identify energy efficiency as a cornerstone of our approach,” said University of Hawaiʻi System President David Lassner. “She continues to be a strong ally in achieving our energy efficiency goals; we are both grateful for her work and pleased to see her recognized for her contributions.”

More on Winslade

Winslade has been dedicated to improving sustainability for more than a decade. Winslade was previously the director of sustainability at UH West Oʻahu and sustainability coordinator at UH Mānoa. In addition to working at Hawaiʻi Energy, she is also a full-time MBA student at the Duke University Fuqua School of Business enrolled in the Cross Continent Program, a program for working professionals that includes residencies in five countries and a diverse student body from around the world, and is expected to graduate in May 2016.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in partnership with Make-A-Wish® Hawaii granted 15-year-old Georgia teen Camron Hulsey her wish to tour the university’s marine biology program. Camron, who is battling cancer, hopes to one day attend UH Mānoa and aspires to become a marine biologist.

Hulsey gets up close with marine life.

The two-day tour began with Mānoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman leading a surprise welcome rally for Wish Teen Camron and her family. The rally included a Hawaiian oli (chant) and lei presentations, and culminated with Vice Chancellor Lori Ideta awarding Camron with a Conditional Certificate of Acceptance to UH.

The campus tour continued with a visit to the marine biology labs, Campus Center, Warrior Recreation Center and student housing. The second day was an exclusive visit to the university’s marine research facility on Coconut Island, which was playfully renamed “Camron Island” for a day in honor of her visit. Camron’s courage and unwavering optimism inspired all who were privileged to participate in her tour.

The competition, sponsored by the South Korean government, was one of 17 regional preliminary competitions held in 16 countries worldwide calling for chefs to create dishes that highlight the unique tastes and attraction of Korean cuisine. The Hawaiʻi competition was also sponsored by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Honolulu.

Chef Grant Sato presents his dish before the judges.

Chefs were provided with cooking equipment, utensils and ingredients such as beef, bell pepper, sesame oil, jap chae noodles and shiitake mushroom, to name a few. Along with the provided ingredients, every chef was permitted one special ingredient.

“My special ingredient that I used in the competition was 100 percent pure Hawaiian Crown Pineapple Juice that I reduced to a syrup and used in place of refined sugar in my dish,” said Sato. “I wanted to showcase a truly local product and create a dish that nurtures your body, soul and spirit!”

Going international

Along with a $500 prize, Sato has won a trip to Korea to compete in the International Global Taste of Korea competition to be held from August 20-29. Sato looks forward to representing Hawaiʻi as he anticipates the upcoming competition.

“I feel assured in my cooking skills and my knife cutting skills, so what I want to do now is do more research on Korean culture,” added Sato. He hopes that learning more about Korean culture and language will help him understand the traditions and flavors that make Korean cuisine unique.

The international competition will feature 17 contestants from 16 different countries. The grand prize winner will receive an award of $10,000.

Associate Professor Tae-Ung Baik will join four other members of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances at his first meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in mid-September. He was appointed to a three-year term beginning July 3.

Each of the members is selected to represent one of the five regions of the world. Baik will represent Asia-Pacific.

Driven by personal experience

Baik’s personal history as a political prisoner under a repressive former regime in his home country of South Korea makes his appointment particularly compelling. In a powerful letter of recommendation, William S. Richardson School of Law Dean Avi Soifer wrote,” “Tae-Ung Baik has had to bear directly and at length what few of us would be able to bear at all. Nonetheless, he has emerged as a strikingly careful, wise and effective human rights advocate.”

Joachim Rucker, president of the Human Rights Council under which the Working Group operates, welcomed Baik’s strong victim-centered approach that draws on both his academic expertise and his own experience.

Formed 35 years ago, the group’s main task is to help families determine the fate or whereabouts of family members who have disappeared. It plays a key role as a liaison between families, agencies assisting them and the governments involved by submitting evidence and asking for investigations. Only when the fate of a disappeared person is known is a case closed.

In formal terms, as a “mandate-holder” of the Human Rights Council, Baik will work as an independent expert to report and advise the council on human rights issues.

For the second year in a row, a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Institute for Astronomy (IfA) has received the Robert J. Trumpler Award, given by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific to recognize a recent PhD thesis considered unusually important to astronomy. The 2015 recipient is H. Jabran Zahid, who received his PhD in 2014.

Zahid’s thesis work measured the chemical evolution of galaxies using existing and new data from large extragalactic surveys and compared these results with the predictions of cosmological simulations. Highly motivated to understand his observational results from a theoretical perspective, he extended this work by developing the theoretical links between galactic chemical evolution, dust and star formation in galaxies.

IfA Director Guenther Hasinger stated, “Jabran embarked on his PhD thesis with extraordinary drive, innate ability and independence. His thesis work yielded nine first-author refereed journal articles that comprehensively span observations and theory and has already been cited by other researchers over 250 times.”

UH Hilo sent two public service announcement (PSA) teams to the conference who were tasked with developing a 30-second PSA on Concussion: Prevention and Recognition. Team B, which consisted of Chapter President Lark Jason Canico, Shane Naeole and Taumata Tue Vaea (serving as an alternate from UH Mānoa), took 1st place. Team A, which consisted of Ridge Cabaccang, Kelly Gani and Sheldon Cabudol, earned Top 10 honors.

“I’m overwhelmed with joy and still in denial that we captured gold facing such tough competition that included fellow UH Hilo members and other Texas Technical Institutes,” Canico said. “To finish first after coming in second last year makes it extra special.”